That figure already beats the 77,685 who attended all sessions of the 1991 Championships in Minneapolis, as reported by The Star Tribune. U.S. Figure Skating Association officials said the '91 Championships set the previous record.

Varney said 9,298 tickets had been sold for the men's final Saturday afternoon, 13,329 for the women's final Saturday night and 12,320 for today's exhibition, which starts at 2 p.m.

Varney said 8,991 tickets were sold Tuesday morning and 8,139 Tuesday evening; 5,977 Wednesday afternoon and 9,886 on Wednesday night, for opening ceremonies; 12,473 Thursday morning for the successful program to expose school children to skating with a field trip and special $1.50 ticket, and 9,691 Thursday night; 6,170 Friday afternoon and 11,718 Friday night; and 5,879 - the smallest turnout - for the Saturday morning session.

HALL OF FAME

VETERAN JUDGE Ardelle Kloss Sanderson, who has judged 23 Nationals, seven World Championships and the Winter Olympics in a 50-year career, led a group of 14 athletes, skaters and judges inducted Friday into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

Joining Sanderson: William Thayer Tutt, who established the training center at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, and his widow, Uvonne Sherman Tutt, a two-time U.S. champion and bronze and silver medalist at the World Championships.

Also, Judy Schwomeyer Sladky and James Sladky, five-time U.S. dance champions and creators of the Yankee Polka; Michael McGean and the late Lois Waring McGean, also five-time U.S. dance champions and world champions; Olympic silver medalists James Grogran, Karol Kennedy Butler and Peter Kennedy; 1979 World Champions Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner; Olympic gold medalist and world champion Dorothy Hamill and world champion Charles Tickner.

VIP ROLL CALL

A NUMBER of Olympians from a number of sports have slipped in and out of the Championships. Debi Thomas, bronze medal skater at Calgary, Alberta, in 1988, was a VIP for several days, and Varney tried to persuade her to stay over for today's exhibition. ''We tried,'' Varney said, ''but Debi had other commitments.''

Also appearing during the week was diver Kent Ferguson, who was among the U.S. team members training in Orlando when the aquatic center was closed. After the skating, Ferguson went with team members to Brandon to continue training. He is a favorite to compete in Barcelona, Spain, this summer.

DIVISIONAL BREAKDOWN

THE U.S. Figure Skating Association sponsors championships in three divisions: novice, juniors and seniors or championship. ''The separation is purely by skill level,'' said USFSA spokeswoman Kristin Matta, a former skater. ''There are a series of eight tests that skaters take. Age has nothing to do with it.'' The novice division also is for first-time qualifiers to the Nationals. Those who pass skill level tests then qualify for juniors. The same is true for moving up to seniors.

Novice national championships earned in the past week: Michelle Cho of Orange County, Calif.; Roman Fraden of Los Angeles; Nicole Bateson-Rock of Newark, Del., and J. Paul Binnebose of Rockland, N.Y., in the pairs; and Kat Black and Kevin Spada, both of Indianapolis, in ice dancing.

Junior titles were won by Caroline Song of Los Angeles; Ryan Hunka of Cleveland; Nicole and Gregory Sciarrotta, both of Orange County, Calif., in pairs; and Christine Fowler and Garrett Swasey, both of Colorado Springs, in ice dancing.